This is a discussion from yesterday, read and see what you think and send comments
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akholiwe ngceba
Jan 9, 2012, 5:20:31 AM1/9/12
to ECRuralEDU
FROM SIBONGAKONKE TO AK:
Hi Akho
So here are the things that I wanted to talk to you about, so that you
can consider them before you speak to everyone, and maybe put them
forward for consideration by everyone else too.
Firstly, I’d just like to explain where my mind is at about the whole
project. I’ve got huge dreams for what we’re starting here.
Ultimately, when we’ve done this for long enough the group has grown
enough in size and financial support, I see us actually opening a
school (and even more) which will provide children from where we come
from with the quality of education we know they deserve. We start with
providing study guides and text books, then we can do stuff like
uniforms, we get the community involved and hire someone from the area
to feed kids in the morning and afternoon, , we supplement that with
teaching something like gardening on land somewhere on the school
okanye elalini so that abantwana bangahlali bexhomekeke ekufumaneni
ukutya esikolweni (and bondle namakhaya abo, we somehow get a tutoring
programme going, we somehow organise teacher training to improve their
performance, we do more, and more, and more, until one day we open an
insane academy. These are all dreams, that will happen, but we start
small of course.
However, I don’t think we have to start too small just because we’re
“starting small”. If we can do more, why not? With that said, let me
share what’s in my head.
My understanding is that all those who are keen on this project are
doing it because it’s close to their hearts and we all want to make a
difference. However, one cannot forget that we all want to do this
because of the fulfilment it will bring. We all come from different
places back home, and I’m sure many of us really want to make a
difference all over, but more so where we come from in the Eastern
Cape. Because we all come from different places, I thought the
following would be cool:
Whoever is in the group right now can start a project at a school s/he
chooses individually – but obviously we belong to one group and are
carrying out the objectives of that group. (Maybe one of the criteria
of joining the group may be that you implement the group project in an
area you come from.) So, let’s say the group consists of Sibongakonke,
Akholiwe, and Papama. We all decide what the group project is and we
implement that, individually, where we come from (or where we choose).
So if we’re collecting textbooks for grade 8s, for example, I do so
for a school eThuthurha kuCentane, you do that for a school kuFeni
kuCentane, and Papama does that for a school eRhwantsana kuCentane
(for argument’s sake). As the group projects grow, and we want to do
more at our respective schools, we can recruit people (friends etc) to
our teams – and that would be how those people will be part of the
group. Obviously, we would also want to recruit people who would start
projects at other schools and recruit their own team mates. My
suggestion, here, also means that we would need to talk about whether
or not we have a limit to group membership; and if so, what that limit
is. With this whole thing I’m suggesting I am by no means suggesting
working in isolation. For example, if through your network, you
receive more textbooks than you need, you can donate those to mine or
Papama’s team. That is something that would have to be made clear to
donors.
Obviously, people who don’t want to start something alone and are more
comfortable with working with other people can work join a team on a
project. I just think that we don’t have to limit ourselves to helping
one school when we can help more. My thinking is this; individually we
all have substantial networks in our families, friendships, work,
church, etc. E.G.: I can seek assistance from family, family
employers, family friends, friends, friends’s family and friends,
work, colleagues, facebook, twitter, and other corporate companies.
Other group members can do the same too. Imagine how big a network we
have when we put all of us together. Now, why would we want to focus
all that wealth in only one school?
I hope I’ve made sense in this explanation. Keen to hear what you
think.
Oh, another thing that has popped into my mind is that since
sizakusebenza ezilalini, it is important that we speak to iiNkosi
neecawe zezo lali sakube sisebenza kuzo – for respect and to gain
support nentsebeziswano.
I still think that starting our work with the younger ones is a good
move that will be more beneficial to the pupils, and nathi umsebenzi
wethu sakukwazi ukuwubona siwukhombe. Enye into, we need to create
foundation, and learning is also a habit that needs to be taught. I’m
not saying that we should not help grade 12s where we can. Just that
it would be cool to start with grade 8s, for example, and grow with
them as they advance to higher grades, while we take on incoming young
ones.
Here are some other things that have been floating in my head since
the realisation that we need a constitution for the bank account, and
ultimately get going:
Constitution:
- Pride (doing his articles) is ready to draft this for us,
if you please. He just needs that information I told you about on bbm;
aims and objectives, functions, roles, offices, etc.
- With that said, we’d have to talk around all of the above.
Like: roles (who is/does what)? What do you think about having an
independent partner (or maybe this is something to think about later)?
People:
- Who is already in?
- How do people join?
- Who says they may join?
- On what grounds are they allowed to join? Is/are there
something(s) one has to do/prove to be allowed to join?
- Expelling people? How/When/Why does this happen? Who does
it?
Name:
- Ideas needed. Or do we think about this later?
This is all that I have floating in my head, for now. If anything pops
up, trust you’ll receive an email. Apologies if this doesn’t read
easy, bendibhala ndinemncili.
Love
Sbo
FROM AK TO SIBONGAKONKE
Wow its really awesome that you're so keen. I hear your suggestions, I
think its best you add them to the group tomorrow when I have started
the group. Or I can forward it on your behalf. I have my concerns, and
I don't mean to discourage you, but its really important to me that we
don't over-extend ourselves and end up with just a great idea and not
much actually done. The smaller groups idea could work, but then I
don't think that I can take responsibility for the entire network's co-
ordination. If you are keen to do so, I welcome that. Let's hear what
everyone is keen to DO tomorrow and also remember that this is all
remote as most of the people aren't based in the provinces. In as far
as involving the extended community its a good suggestion just in
time, when we have actually seen how much we can deliver. I can commit
myself as far as my abilities(time and resources) allow me, hence I go
back to saying my commitment for this year is one school. I welcome
the extention to other grades and other school, but not under mu
custodian this year. I am going to be a fulltime post grad student,
and working fulltime. So I really wanna focus my involvement as far as
I can be sure I can handle it and complete the task. The group
discussion tomorrow will provide a better sense of direction and level
of commitment and perhaps tell how many resources we have at our
disposal. It makes my heart happy to see such passion and I'm
confident that an impact will be made. The constitution will be a work
in progress for now just to get things off the ground, with the bank
acc. Also the use of the bank acc will depend on the direction we
decide to take wrt the groups, school\schools, etc.
Sibongakonke sibong...@gmail.com
8:14 PM (16 hours ago)
to me
FROM SBONGAKONKE TO AK
Definitely hear you
No discouraging done at all. Like I said, those are ideas, they'd be
cool to implement yes, only if we have the capacity to do so and if
doing so won't compromise the quality of our work. The bigger things I
mentioned, too, are just ideas that could be considered later
depending on the growth of the group and its capabilities. And of
course, each one person must commit him/herself according to the time
s/he has. I'd be happy to co-ordinate the network if needed to, but
that's even if we go that route. So I'm definitely all for sharing
with everyone what I've shared with you, and we can see where we're
going.
Speak tomorrow :)
Hi Akho
So here are the things that I wanted to talk to you about, so that you
can consider them before you speak to everyone, and maybe put them
forward for consideration by everyone else too.
Firstly, I’d just like to explain where my mind is at about the whole
project. I’ve got huge dreams for what we’re starting here.
Ultimately, when we’ve done this for long enough the group has grown
enough in size and financial support, I see us actually opening a
school (and even more) which will provide children from where we come
from with the quality of education we know they deserve. We start with
providing study guides and text books, then we can do stuff like
uniforms, we get the community involved and hire someone from the area
to feed kids in the morning and afternoon, , we supplement that with
teaching something like gardening on land somewhere on the school
okanye elalini so that abantwana bangahlali bexhomekeke ekufumaneni
ukutya esikolweni (and bondle namakhaya abo, we somehow get a tutoring
programme going, we somehow organise teacher training to improve their
performance, we do more, and more, and more, until one day we open an
insane academy. These are all dreams, that will happen, but we start
small of course.
However, I don’t think we have to start too small just because we’re
“starting small”. If we can do more, why not? With that said, let me
share what’s in my head.
My understanding is that all those who are keen on this project are
doing it because it’s close to their hearts and we all want to make a
difference. However, one cannot forget that we all want to do this
because of the fulfilment it will bring. We all come from different
places back home, and I’m sure many of us really want to make a
difference all over, but more so where we come from in the Eastern
Cape. Because we all come from different places, I thought the
following would be cool:
Whoever is in the group right now can start a project at a school s/he
chooses individually – but obviously we belong to one group and are
carrying out the objectives of that group. (Maybe one of the criteria
of joining the group may be that you implement the group project in an
area you come from.) So, let’s say the group consists of Sibongakonke,
Akholiwe, and Papama. We all decide what the group project is and we
implement that, individually, where we come from (or where we choose).
So if we’re collecting textbooks for grade 8s, for example, I do so
for a school eThuthurha kuCentane, you do that for a school kuFeni
kuCentane, and Papama does that for a school eRhwantsana kuCentane
(for argument’s sake). As the group projects grow, and we want to do
more at our respective schools, we can recruit people (friends etc) to
our teams – and that would be how those people will be part of the
group. Obviously, we would also want to recruit people who would start
projects at other schools and recruit their own team mates. My
suggestion, here, also means that we would need to talk about whether
or not we have a limit to group membership; and if so, what that limit
is. With this whole thing I’m suggesting I am by no means suggesting
working in isolation. For example, if through your network, you
receive more textbooks than you need, you can donate those to mine or
Papama’s team. That is something that would have to be made clear to
donors.
Obviously, people who don’t want to start something alone and are more
comfortable with working with other people can work join a team on a
project. I just think that we don’t have to limit ourselves to helping
one school when we can help more. My thinking is this; individually we
all have substantial networks in our families, friendships, work,
church, etc. E.G.: I can seek assistance from family, family
employers, family friends, friends, friends’s family and friends,
work, colleagues, facebook, twitter, and other corporate companies.
Other group members can do the same too. Imagine how big a network we
have when we put all of us together. Now, why would we want to focus
all that wealth in only one school?
I hope I’ve made sense in this explanation. Keen to hear what you
think.
Oh, another thing that has popped into my mind is that since
sizakusebenza ezilalini, it is important that we speak to iiNkosi
neecawe zezo lali sakube sisebenza kuzo – for respect and to gain
support nentsebeziswano.
I still think that starting our work with the younger ones is a good
move that will be more beneficial to the pupils, and nathi umsebenzi
wethu sakukwazi ukuwubona siwukhombe. Enye into, we need to create
foundation, and learning is also a habit that needs to be taught. I’m
not saying that we should not help grade 12s where we can. Just that
it would be cool to start with grade 8s, for example, and grow with
them as they advance to higher grades, while we take on incoming young
ones.
Here are some other things that have been floating in my head since
the realisation that we need a constitution for the bank account, and
ultimately get going:
Constitution:
- Pride (doing his articles) is ready to draft this for us,
if you please. He just needs that information I told you about on bbm;
aims and objectives, functions, roles, offices, etc.
- With that said, we’d have to talk around all of the above.
Like: roles (who is/does what)? What do you think about having an
independent partner (or maybe this is something to think about later)?
People:
- Who is already in?
- How do people join?
- Who says they may join?
- On what grounds are they allowed to join? Is/are there
something(s) one has to do/prove to be allowed to join?
- Expelling people? How/When/Why does this happen? Who does
it?
Name:
- Ideas needed. Or do we think about this later?
This is all that I have floating in my head, for now. If anything pops
up, trust you’ll receive an email. Apologies if this doesn’t read
easy, bendibhala ndinemncili.
Love
Sbo
FROM AK TO SIBONGAKONKE
Wow its really awesome that you're so keen. I hear your suggestions, I
think its best you add them to the group tomorrow when I have started
the group. Or I can forward it on your behalf. I have my concerns, and
I don't mean to discourage you, but its really important to me that we
don't over-extend ourselves and end up with just a great idea and not
much actually done. The smaller groups idea could work, but then I
don't think that I can take responsibility for the entire network's co-
ordination. If you are keen to do so, I welcome that. Let's hear what
everyone is keen to DO tomorrow and also remember that this is all
remote as most of the people aren't based in the provinces. In as far
as involving the extended community its a good suggestion just in
time, when we have actually seen how much we can deliver. I can commit
myself as far as my abilities(time and resources) allow me, hence I go
back to saying my commitment for this year is one school. I welcome
the extention to other grades and other school, but not under mu
custodian this year. I am going to be a fulltime post grad student,
and working fulltime. So I really wanna focus my involvement as far as
I can be sure I can handle it and complete the task. The group
discussion tomorrow will provide a better sense of direction and level
of commitment and perhaps tell how many resources we have at our
disposal. It makes my heart happy to see such passion and I'm
confident that an impact will be made. The constitution will be a work
in progress for now just to get things off the ground, with the bank
acc. Also the use of the bank acc will depend on the direction we
decide to take wrt the groups, school\schools, etc.
Sibongakonke sibong...@gmail.com
8:14 PM (16 hours ago)
to me
FROM SBONGAKONKE TO AK
Definitely hear you
No discouraging done at all. Like I said, those are ideas, they'd be
cool to implement yes, only if we have the capacity to do so and if
doing so won't compromise the quality of our work. The bigger things I
mentioned, too, are just ideas that could be considered later
depending on the growth of the group and its capabilities. And of
course, each one person must commit him/herself according to the time
s/he has. I'd be happy to co-ordinate the network if needed to, but
that's even if we go that route. So I'm definitely all for sharing
with everyone what I've shared with you, and we can see where we're
going.
Speak tomorrow :)
noz...@webmail.co.za
Jan 9, 2012, 5:34:29 AM1/9/12
to ecrur...@googlegroups.com
In response to Sibo's msg I rly the idea of going for different schools makes sense. When it comes to education people, and especially big companies will be willing to help and that can help more than one school. I'm yet to think about her other suggestions, but yes we will grow!
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
ncebaka...@gmail.com
Jan 9, 2012, 6:51:32 AM1/9/12
to ecrur...@googlegroups.com
Afternoon Guys
It is so wonderful to see so many ideas n they do sound great,I think the one school idea for this year sounds good because we can get to see what challenges arises to better prepare us for taking on more schools. And please with the schools lets not forget the important of a library so that they can be more resources for the students to use. I'm so excited about this I cnt even think properly because of all these ideas that I have.
Lets do this guys and one head is so much better than one.
Ncebakazi
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